Turns out that Albert Pujols’ mega talents aren’t just limited to what he can do with a bat in his hands. Hobbled by a strained calf that some thought would keep him on the disabled list until the All-Star Break, Pujols, with his quick healing ability, is on target for a return this week instead. The St. Louis Dispatch reported that he could return when eligible to come off the DL on Thursday.

When it comes to performing at the absolute highest level, Pujols has been nearly unmatched since his 2001 rookie season. Injuries have been issues in recent seasons, but never a cause for him to miss extensive time. He has hit both lefties and righties, for average and for power, at home and on the road, from April through October. Read more »

Entering Sunday, Mark Teixeira’s first full year in a Braves uniform had not turned out the way he, or the team, had hoped when he came to Atlanta from the Texas Rangers. The 28-year-old switch hitter did have 51 RBIs and has provided Chipper Jones enough lineup protection to take a run at .400, but he had only 10 home runs and was hitting .264, a year after batting .306 with 30 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Sunday’s three-homer performance in an 8-3 win over the Seattle Mariners not only raised Teixeira’s average by 7 points to .271, but was also the inevitable breakout performance that his Braves teammates, manager Bobby Cox and his fantasy owners were waiting for, and counting on. Read more »